Mechanism for self-propelled machines



Jan. 6, 1959 P. SCHILLER 2,867,135

MECHANISM FOR SELF-PROPELLED MACHINES Filed March 1e, 1954 6 f ,f3 4 7 9 l0 J! g 5: h 35 Y 3655 55 if 64 l mmvlnh i -50 559\ 46 61 Nf- /ll 3m INVENTOR.'

PAUL. SCH/L L ER ited States 2,867,135 MECHANISM FOR SELF-PROPELLED MACHINES Paul Schiller, Zurich, Switzerland Application March 16, 1954, Serial No. 416,671 7 Claims. (Cl. 74-700) The present invention relates to a transmission mechanism for self-propelled machines for conveying and/or removing bulk material and the like, in particular for rotary snowplows, with means for working the machine ahead and in reverse, as well as for driving, cutting and throwing devices for the bulk material.

In order to attain the best efficiency of the machine, it is especially important to be able to vary its traveling speed in accordance with the depth of the snow to be removed and in accordance with the condition of the snow drift, say, in the case of fresh snow, powder snow or hard snow. For the same reason it should also be possible suitably to regulate the working speeds of the snow-cutting device as well as of the impeller ejector device independently of each other to accord with the travelling speed and with the condition of the snow drift.

For this purpose, the mechanism according to the invention includes an engine shaft in constant operating connection with a main drive shaft, and a first drive shaft coaxial to the latter, with two toothed wheels axially displaceable independently of each other and capable of being brought into engagement when desired with the toothed wheels of the main drive shaft, one of said toothed wheels being arranged as stepped gear element and the other provided with a device for direct coupling to the engine shaft. The first drive shaft is mounted for rotation with an intermediate shaft having a pair of toothed wheels adapted to be selectively brought into engagement with a displaceable stepped gear element of a spline shaft connected for rotation through a further gear with the wheel-shafts of the vehicle. A stepped gear element is arranged axially displaceable on a splined part of the drive shaft of the throwing device, so that said gear element can be brought into engagement selectively with one or the other toothed wheel of the main drive shaft. The drive shaft of the throwing device passes through a hollow drive shaft coaxial therewith and operatively connected with the cutting device, the splined portion of said hollow shaft carrying an axially displaceable stepped gear element capable of being brought into engagement selectively with two toothed -wheels of the main drive shaft.

The accompanying drawing illustrates by way of example a preferred embodiment incorporating the invention.

Fig. l shows a vertical axial section through the mechanism, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view-parallel to the section-plane in Fig. l-of a countershaft mechanism.

In the form of the embodiment illustrated, the mechanism of the transmission is intended for driving a rotary snowplow including a travelling carriage with two propelling wheels and two cutter cylinders for handling the snow which are driven in opposite senses about vertical axes, a snow-throwing impeller ejector orthe like adapted to take the snow over from the cutter cylinders and to throw it through an adjustable trajectory onto a lorry moving alongside, for instance.

2,867,135 Patented Jan. 6, 1959 r ICCv The mechanism comprises a casing 1 having the driving motor 2 mounted thereon, the engine shaft 3 thereof being journalled at its free end in a ball bearing 4 of the partition wall 5. The engine shaft 3 terminates at one end in a pinion 6 having on its face a plurality of coupling dogs 7 and an axial bearing bore 8. A first drive shaft 9 is a spline shaft coaxial with the engine shaft 3 and journalled at one end in a bearing bushing in the end of shaft 3 and at the other end in a ball bearing 10 of the casing wall 11. Seated on the first drive shaft 9 are a toothed wheel or gear means 12 and a stepped gear element or gear means 13, each of these gear means being a shiftable element axially displaceable or shiftable by a control member with operating rods (not shown). The toothed wheel 12 has a shiftable coupling member formed With counter-dogs 14 on its side facing the pinion 6 and can be shifted into engagement with the dogs 7 of the latter in order to couple the first drive shaft 9 direct with the engine shaft 3. Transmission means connect the spline shaft 9 with the intermediate shaft 18 by way of an arrangement in which keyed to the outer end of said first drive shaft 9 is a chain wheel or sprocket element 15 with three sets of teeth and driving through` a triple chain 16 a chain wheel or sprocket element 17 likewise provided With three sets of teeth. Said last sprocket elements are keyed to a countershaft or intermediate shaft 18 which is supported-as shown in Fig. Z-in a plane parallel to the section-plane in Fig. 1, at one end in a ball bearing 19 in the end wall 11 of the casing and at the other end in a ball bearing 21 in a bracket 20 of the casing. The countershaft or intermediate shaft 18 carries gear means including a fixed toothed wheel or gear 22 and a keyed-on too-thed wheel or gear 23. In the section-plane in Fig. 2 and parallel to the 4countershaft 18, a spline shaft 24 driven from the first drive shaft 9 is adapted to be driven from the countershaft 18 so as to rotate or drive the propelling wheels 34 of the vehicle. This other spline shaft 24 is journalled at'one end in a conical roller bearing 25 in the end wall 11 and at the other end in a conical roller bearing 27 in the opposite partition wall 5. On the spline shaft 24 stepped gear means in the form of a stepped gear element 28 can be axially displaced or shifted by means of a shift-arm 29 on a shift-bar 30 and brought into mesh with the wheel 22 or 23 according to the selected transmission ratio. Further, said spline shaft 24 has keyed thereto a worm 31 engaging a worrnwheel 32, the latter rigidly fixed on the axle-shaft 33 which is journalled in bearings of the casing 1 and carries the propelling wheel 34. Thereby, the first drive shaft 9 is connected by a variable transmission with the driven shaft 24 which is associated with the propelling means of the vehicle.

The transmission wheels or gear means 40, 41, 42 and 43 are fast on a main -drive shaft 35 located in the section-plane of Fig. 1 and parallel with the spline shaft 9, said main drive shaft being journalled at one end in a ball bearing 36 in the end wall 11 and at the other end in a ball bearing 37 of the end wall 38, and further, at its interrupted splined middle section, in a ballbearing 39 'of the partition wall 5. The toothed wheel 4f) is constantly meshing with the pinion 6, while the stepped gear element 12 can be engaged with the toothed wheel 41 and the wheel 13 with the wheels 42 or 43 as desired. The wheels 44 and 45 are rigidly mounted on the section of the main drive shaft 35 lying between the two ball bearings 37 and 39. A second drive shaft 46 is herein also termned the ejector shaft inasmuch as it is adapted to be connected to the impeller ejector means of the vehicle whereby snow or the like may be projected,

this ejector shaft 46u having a splined portion projecting 46 -projects-atene endout of the gear casing and there carries the impeller-ortsnow-throwingpropeller, -while in the other direction it protrudes from the front casing wall 11 and a casing cover 47 is bolted thereon. The second drive shaft -46\is journalledl in lat-balllbearing 48 of the endy wall 38 and in a ball bear-ing149 `ofthe partition wall 5. On the -section -located'between `'these two bearings, shaft 46-is provided With splines on which stepped gear meansin'the form of kashiftablestepped gear element 50 canbe axially'fdisplacedor shiftedby means of a shift membery (not shown) provided with an `operating'bar and-thus engageableselectively with the wheel 44 or 45. `A hollow third drive Ishaft 551 surrounds and'is rotatable upon thefshaft-46` by means: of bearing bushings 52, 53, 'andfis supported in a I:tall bearing 54 in the casing en'dwallll, and in ball bearings 56, 57 mounted within a'bearing la'ttachmentSS fixed on the cover '47, between the 'two lastmentioned bearings. The third drive shaft 51 has a `sprocket 58 keyed thereto, from which'the cutter cylinders of the machine are driven througha bevel gear yby means of a chain (not shown). The sectionof the hollow shaft 51 located between the balli bearings-49 and S4 Vis fitted with splines on which a stepped gear element or third stepped gear means 59 can-be moved lor shifted in axial direction by means of va shift member (not shown) and brought into engagement withfwheel-40 or 41 as desired.

The mechanism described hereinbefore permits changling the traveling speed as desired -within given limits, without altering each time the favourableworking speed of the cutter cylinders or of the snow impeller ejector. This is made possible, 'because the main drive shaft 35- from which power is 'taken lvia stepped shiftable gear element 59 for driving the cutter cylinders, and via stepped shifta'ole gear elementV 50 for the impelleralways rotatesat the same speed, since the wheel 40 of the main drive shaft l is in constant mesh with the pinion 6 of the engine shaft 3. Two first steps of the travelling speed are made possible by coupling wheel 12 direct to pinion 6, or by engaging wheel 12 with wheel 41. Two further steps of the travelling speed are then made possible in the idling position of wheel 12 by engaging the stepped gear element 13 with wheel `42 or 43. Each of these four speed steps can moreover be subdivided intotwo steps, this lbeing achievedby engaging stepped gear element 28 with the Wheel 22 or 23, so that in all eight speeds are .available for propelling of the rotary plow.

Independent of the travelling speed, two different steps for the working speed of the cutter cylinders can be obtained by engaging the stepped gear `element 59 wlth the wheel or 41. In the same Way, independent of the travelling speed'of the machine and also independent of the working speedof the cutter cylinders; two'different speeds'may be'selectedlfor the impeller by en- .1;

gaging the steppedgear element with the wheel 44 or 45.

The mechanism is kept lubricated by continuous'circulation of oil by means ofan oil pump 60 and oil piping 61 leading tothe lubricated spots. The oil pump is driven from the main drive 35 via sprockets'Z, `63 and chain 64.

In summary from the foregoing it will he understood thaty this Ainvention* provides a novel transmission mechanism for a self-propelled vehicle which includes an engine, rotary cuttermeans, and impeller ejector means for bulk material such as snow. This transmission mechanism has a main drive shaft 35 driven'bythe engine shaft 3 with gear means 'connecting the engine shaft with the main drive shaft for driving the latter. Airst drive shaft 9 is associated with the` propelling means of the vehicle which includes the 'vehicle wheel 34. Coupling means 7 and 14 are providedv for coupling the first drive shaft 95 4directly 'with' the" engineA shaft 3. *There are changespeed "transmission means connecting `the main drive shaft 35 with the first drive shaft for driving `the latter -at selected speeds Y-soYthat-the. first drive shaft 9 can be selectively driven from the engine shaft 3 and from the main drive shaft 35, and there is for that purpose included the shiftable element 13 mounted on the first drive shaft. The driven shaft 24 connected to the propelling means of the vehicle may be driven from the -counter shaft 18 throughvariable transmission means 28 connecting the first drive shaft 9 with the driven shaft 24 for driving the `propelling means of the vehicle at different speeds. The second drive shaft.46 associated with the impeller ejector means of the vehicle, has change speed transmission means connecting it with the second drive shaft 46 through the Shiftable element 50 mounted on the shaft 46 for driving the latter. The third or hollow shaft 51 associated with the cutter means has shiftable change transmission means including the third shiftable element 59 mounted on this shaft S1 and connecting the `main drivel shaftl35 with shaft 51 so that the second drive Shaft 46 and the vthird vdrive'shaft 51 and consequently the cutter means and the ejector means can be driven at different speeds independently of the differentspeeds of the first drive shaft 9 and of the driven shaft 24.

What I claim is:

l. A transmission Kmechanismfor a self-propelled vehicle for removing' bulk material such assnow and comprising, in combination, lan engine shaft; -amain drive shaft parallel to the engine shaft; gear means connecting said engine shaft'with said main drive shaft; a spline shaft associated with the propellingv means of the vehicle and being coaxialwith` said engine shaft; 'first coupling means for coupling said first drive shaft to said 'engineshaft and including a shiftable coupling member including first gear means and being mounted on saidrspline shaft-for axial shifting movement so thatsaid spline shaft can be directly driven from engine shaft; second gear meansincluding two gears mounted on said spline shaft for axial shifting movement; gear means on'saidA main drive shaft cooperating with said first and secondlgearmeans for driving said spline shaft from'said `main'drive shaft and at different speeds; anintermecliatev shaft; transmission means connecting said first drive shaftwithsaid intermediate shaft; gear means on said intermediate shaft; a splineshaft adapted to be connected-to the propelling means ofthe vehicle; stepped geanmeans mounted on said spline shaft shiftable in axial direction'and cooperating with said gearmeans on said intermediate shaft for driving said other spline shaft -at selected speeds depending on said different speeds of saidfirst drive'shaft so that the propelling means of the vehicle are operated at different speeds; a hollow shaft adapted to be connected to cutter means on the vehicle; third stepped gear means mounted on said hollow shaft non-rotatable and shiftable in axial direction and cooperating with saidk gear means on said main drive shaft for driving said hollow shaftat selected speeds independently of the speed ofsaid first drive shaft and said-'spline shaft 1 and said vpropelling means; an ejector shaft adapted to beV connectedlto impeller ejector means and passing` through said'hollow shaft, said ejector shaft having a splinedportion projecting out of said hollow shaft; and stepped gear means mounted on said splined portion for axial shifting movement and cooperating withsaid gear means onsaid main drive shaft for driving said ejector shaft at selected speeds independently of the speeds of said firstdriveshaft and said spline shaft and said propelling means.

2. A transmission mechanism as claimed in claim l wherein said transmission means connecting said first driveshaftv with said intermediate shaft includes chain wheels mounted on said last-mentionedf-shafts and-chain means passing about said chain wheels.

3. A transmission mechanism as:claimed in claim 1 and including' a worm fixe'clly f' mounted on said .spline shaft; a Worm lwheel meshing with said worm; and means for connecting said worm wheel with the propulsion means of the vehicle.

4. A transmission for a self-propelled vehicle including an engine, rotary cutter means and impeller ejector means for bulk material such as snow, the transmission comprising, in combination, an engine shaft adapted to be driven by the engine; a main drive shaft; gear means connecting said engine shaft with said main drive shaft for driving the latter; a first drive shaft associated With the propelling means of the vehicle; coupling means for coupling said rst drive shaft directly with said engine shaft; rst change speed transmission means connecting said main drive shaft with said first drive shaft for driving the latter at selected speeds so that said rst drive shaft can be selectively driven from said engine shaft and from said main drive shaft; a second drive shaft associated with the impeller ejector means; second change speed transmission means connecting said main drive shaft with said second drive shaft for driving the latter; a third drive shaft associated with the cutter means; and third shiftable change speed transmission means connecting said main drive shaft with said third drive shaft so that said second and third drive shafts and said cutter means and impeller ejector means can be driven at different speeds independently of the different speeds of said first drive shaft.

5. A transmission for a self-propelled vehicle including an engine, rotary cutter means and impeller ejector means for bulk material such as snow, the transmission comprising, in combination, an engine shaft adapted to be driven by the engine; a main drive shaft; gear means connecting said engine shaft with said main drive shaft for driving the latter; a first drive shaft associated with the propelling means of the vehicle; coupling means for coupling said first drive shaft directly with said engine shaft; rst change speed transmission means including a first shiftable element mounted on said rst drive shaft and connecting said main drive shaft with said first drive shaft for driving the latter at selected speeds so that said rst drive shaft can be selectively driven from said engine shaft and from said main drive shaft; a second drive shaft associated with the impeller ejector means; second change speed transmission means including a second shiftable element mounted on said second drive shaft and connecting said main drive shaft with said second drive shaft for driving the latter; a third drive shaft associated with the cutter means; and third shiftable change speed transmission means including a third shiftable element mounted on said third drive shaft and connecting said main drive shaft with said third drive shaft so that said second and third drive shafts and said cutter means and impeller ejector means can be driven at different speeds independently of the different speeds of said first drive shaft.

6. A transmission for a self-propelled vehicle including an engine, rotary cutter means and impeller ejector means for bulk material such as snow, the transmission comprising, in combination, an engine shaft adapted to be driven by the engine; a main drive shaft; gear means connecting said engine shaft with said main drive shaft for driving the latter; a first drive shaft associated with the propelling means of the vehicle; coupling means for coupling said first drive shaft directly with said engine shaft; first change speed transmission means connecting said main drive shaft with said first drive shaft for driving the latter at selected speeds so that first drive shaft can be selectively driven from said engine shaft and from said main drive shaft; a driven shaft adapted to be connected to the propelling means of the vehicle; shiftable variable transmission means connecting said first drive shaft with said driven shaft for driving said propelling means of the vehicle at different speeds; a second drive shaft associated with the impeller ejector means; second change speed transmission means connecting said main drive shaft with said second drive shaft for driving the latter; a third drive shaft associated with the cutter means; and third shiftable change speed transmission means connecting said main drive shaft with said third drive shaft so that said second and third drive shafts and said cutter means and impeller ejector means can be driven at different speeds independently of the different speeds of Said first drive shaft and of said driven shaft.

7. A transmission for a self-propelled vehicle including an engine, rotary cutter means and impeller ejector means for bulk material such as snow, the transmission cornprising, in combination, an engine shaft adapted to be driven by the engine; a main drive shaft; gear means connecting said engine shaft with said main drive shaft for driving the latter; av first drive shaft associated with the propelling means of the vehicle; coupling means for coupling said rst drive shaft directly with said engine shaft; rst change speed transmission means including a first shiftable element mounted on said rst drive shaft and connecting said main drive shaft with said first drive shaft for driving the latter at selected speeds so that said first drive shaft can be selectively driven from said engine shaft and from said main drive shaft; a driven shaft adapted to be connected to the propelling means of the vehicle; shiftable variable transmission means connecting said first drive shaft with said driven shaft for driving said propelling means of the vehicle at different speeds; a second drive shaft associated with the impeller ejector means; second change speed transmission means including a second shiftable element mounted on said drive shaft and connecting said main drive shaft with said second drive shaft for driving the latter; a third drive shaft associated with the cutter means; and third shiftable change speed transmission means including a third shiftable element mounted on said third drive shaft and connecting said main drive shaft with said third drive shaft so that said second and third drive shafts and said cutter means and impeller ejector means can be driven at different speeds independently of the dierent speeds of said first drive shaft and of said driven shaft.

Bechman Dec. 8, 1953 

